How To Treat Hemorrhoids After Pregnancy

Conventional Treatment For Hemorrhoids

HEMORRHOIDS AND PREGNANCY | HEMORRHOIDS TREATMENT & PREVENTION | MANAGE HEMORRHOIDS DURING PREGNANCY

If your doctor believes that you do have enlarged hemorrhoids, she will most likely perform a proctoscopy next. This involves inserting a short tube with a light and lens on it that exams the membranes lining the rectum. The doctor is looking to see if there are enlarged hemorrhoids and how big they are. People tend to fear the pain and discomfort that come with these procedures, but they usually dont hurt and do help your doctor make suggestions about how to get rid of hemorrhoids.

Most of the patients suffering from hemorrhoids have their symptoms alleviated through diet therapy, fiber supplements, hemorrhoid cream and medical treatments, such as sclerotherapy, rubber band ligation and infrared coagulation.

1. Sclerotherapy

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Why Are They More Common During Pregnancy

Although hemorrhoids can appear at any time, most moms-to-be get them in the third trimester, starting around week 28.

Hemorrhoids can also can result from constipation. Thanks to pregnancy hormones, bowels slow down during pregnancy. When stool is hard, the extra straining to eliminate it can put pressure on veins in your rectal area, causing them to become inflamed and bulge. âOn top of that, higher progesterone levels cause the walls of the veins to relax and allow them to swell more easily,â said Dr. Harris.

If you had hemorrhoids before pregnancy, youâre more likely to have them during pregnancy. Hemorrhoids may also develop postpartum as a result of pushing during labor.

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Every Time You Go To The Bathroom

Swap dry toilet paper for wet wipes. Instead of using dry toilet paper, try using natural baby wipes to avoid more irritation.

Clean the area with a perineal bottle filled with lukewarm water.

Apply a watch hazel compress. You can get Tucks, which are already pre-made. Or, you can make your own using even cleaner ingredients. To DIY the pads, soak an eye makeup pad in organic witch hazel, then put it on your bum, let it sit for 15 minutes, then dispose.

Apply a topical solution for continued relief. Some great options include:

Coconut oil. It has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that can help with the itching. It can also relieve pain and inflammation and should help hemorrhoids heal within a few days.

Aloe vera. Apply aloe to the inflamed area for relief. Best to use fresh aloe vera from the leaves of a plant. Whole Foods sells large aloe leaves or you can get a plant at your local nursery. If those arent options, be sure to use a pure aloe vera without added chemicals and fragrances.

Herbal balms. Alternatively, you can try a soothing balm, like this one, or an essential oil blend, like this one.

Arnica. Apply an arnica gel to the area. Arnica reduces inflammation and heals bruises.

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How To Get Rid Of Hemorrhoids While Breastfeeding

You have the option of either nursing your child or having someone else look after them while you relax in the tub. Alternately, you might dampen a clean washcloth in warm water, then apply it to your hemorrhoid for ten to fifteen minutes, three times a day. You might also try placing an ice pack that has been wrapped in a clean towel on the swollen area for five to ten minutes.

When Should You Go To The Doctor For Hemorrhoids When Pregnant

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Consult your health provider if preventive methods and home remedies do not help, or if youve serious pain or rectal bleeding. In some cases, you might need professional help to shrink your hemorrhoids. Also forever check with your health provider before taking any supplement for hemorrhoid while you are pregnant.

Therere a lot of hemorrhoid relief supplements available. Remember that most of these supplements should be used for no more than 7 to 10 days to avoid such side effects as skin thinning or irritation. For several women, hemorrhoid symptoms resolve after the child is born. If they persist, a surgical process might be recommended

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Symptoms Of Postpartum Hemorrhoids

How will you know you have hemorrhoids after labor ? Most women report discomfort around their rectum. Occasionally, the hemorrhoid is visibleit looks like a pink pea is sticking out of your bottom. Other side effects are itching, burning, and pain, says Jeanne Faulkner, R.N. They may also bleed, especially after a bowel movement.

Include Beans In Your Diet

Keep pregnancy piles in check by including beans in your diet. All forms of beans are effective in dealing with piles during pregnancy. Beans are rich in natural soluble fibrewhich makes them one of the best herbal remedies for piles during pregnancy. The soluble natural fibre in beans also helps in managing blood sugar levels and is good for gestational diabetes.

Can I Have Hemorrhoid Surgery While Pregnant

In instances where medical therapies fail to help manage the symptoms and relieve pain, operative interventions may be needed to help treat the problem.

Although many mothers may experience fear for themselves and fetuses, there is no risk for a hemorrhoidectomy and the process is completely safe, brining only the corrective intervention it was intended for and causing no damages to both fetus and mothers.

Make sure you speak with your obstetrician before opting for hemorrhoid surgery when pregnant.

How To Prevent Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

Hemorrhoids in Pregnancy & Postpartum! Heal them FAST! | Sarah Lavonne

Avoiding constipation is key to preventing hemorrhoids during pregnancy. Here are some tips for preventing constipation:

Eat lots of high-fiber foods. There are plenty of good ways to incorporate more fiber into your diet. Fiber-filled foods include fruits like pears , avocados, and berries vegetables such as broccoli, artichokes, and Brussels sprouts whole grains such as oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, and even popcorn legumes including various kinds of beans, lentils, and green peas and dont forget nuts and seeds.

Drink plenty of fluids. Aim for 10 8-ounce glasses of water each day.

Use the toilet as soon as you feel the urge. Holding it in can contribute to constipation.

Try not to sit or stand for long periods of time. If you sit down at work, make sure to get up and walk around for a few minutes every hour. At home, try to rest on your side when reading or watching TV, to relieve downward pressure on your rectal veins.

Ask your doctor about using a stool softener. This can help if other methods fail to ease your constipation. Using laxative pills for constipation is not recommended during pregnancy, as they can cause dehydration and might stimulate uterine contractions.

Identify the right muscles by stopping urination midstream. .

Once you know which muscles to use, tighten them and hold the contraction for five seconds. Then relax for five seconds. Work up to holding the contraction for 10 seconds. Try to do at least three sets of 10 reps a day.

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Why Are Hemorrhoids More Common During Pregnancy

Some people are predisposed to them, but for most women, hemorrhoids are more common during pregnancy. One reason is that moms-to-be frequently find themselves dealing with constipation. The straining causes blood vessels to become swollen, says Candice Wood, MD, an assistant clinical professor at the University of Arizona and Banner University Medical Center Phoenix. In addition, higher progesterone levels cause the vessels to relax and swell.

During pregnancy, a womans blood volume will also increase significantly, by about 50 percent. That means theres more circulating blood and fluid inside the veinsso the veins are bigger just from being pregnant. Exacerbating matters is that blood flow from the lower half of the body tends to be sluggish and obstructed because of the enlarged uterusand a growing baby puts even more pressure on the blood vessels. The weight of the baby and uterus on the rectum helps push hemorrhoids out. Thats why when moms-to-be have hemorrhoids, they tend to have the worst symptoms late in the third trimester. And guess what? Youre not the only one suffering silently back there: Almost all women have hemorrhoids during pregnancy to a greater or lesser degree, Minkin says.

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Pregnancy Hemorrhoids: Causes Treatment And Prevention

Unfortunately, hemorrhoids during pregnancy are common. Hemorrhoids are varicose veins of the rectum and are usually painful. They most often appear during the third trimester.

The most common symptoms of hemorrhoids during pregnancy are:

Blood coating the stool.

When to Call Your Doctor

Hemorrhoids are veins that have become swollen and engorged with blood . Many women experience them for the first time during pregnancy or the postpartum period for several reasons, including a rush of hormones, internal pressure, and constipation.

They can range from irritating to quite painful, but the good news is that for the most part, hemorrhoids arent serious. Most tend to go away with attentive home treatment.

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What Are Hemorroids And What Do They Have To Do With Pregnancy

Hemorrhoids are a variation on varicose veins, in which the rectal veins become inflamed. They can be internal, in which the inflammations stays inside, or external. Pregnancy hormones, an increased blood volume, and pressure on the whole lower area of the body all contribute to an increased incidence of varicose veins during pregnancy. Hemorrhoids are no exception. Add to this that constipation is also more common during pregnancy and that the hard bowel movements that go along with constipation add to the inflammation, and you understand why hemorrhoids are often an unwelcome guest while you are expecting a baby.

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What Causes Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

What causes hemorrhoids during pregnancy? Pregnancy causes hemorrhoids due to the excess pressure exerted on, and added blood flow to, the bowel region during the gestation process. The added weight of a growing baby and increased blood flow can cause veins lining the rectum wall to swell into a hemorrhoid. These bodily changes happen to everyone, which is why 50% of women develop hemorrhoids during pregnancy.

The childbirth process itself can cause hemorrhoids too. As you push hard to deliver your baby, the excessive straining can cause the veins along the rectum wall to become swollen. So even if hemorrhoids dont pop up during pregnancy, its possible to develop them in the postpartum period.

There are also secondary factors related to diet and lifestyle changes during pregnancy that cause flare-ups as well. As eating habits and digestion changes during pregnancy, so will your bathroom habits. Any dietary change affecting your bowel movement regularity can be a boon for hemorrhoids, as constipation and difficult bathroom breaks strain the bowels, adding pressure to the region.

And as you ease into a more sedentary lifestyle due to the added weight of and care for your growing baby, the lower activity level and longer periods of sitting can also cause hemorrhoid flare-ups. Sitting for long periods of time puts pressure on the veins in the bowel region of your body, and extra weight gained from inactivity can contribute as well.

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Symptoms Of Pregnancy Hemorrhoids

In some cases hemorrhoids do not present any symptoms, but in many cases its not uncommon for them to cause discomfort. Here are a few of the most common symptoms that pregnant women with hemorrhoids may experience:

Bleeding when you wipe after a bowel movement
Pain during bowel movements

If you are experiencing some discomfort due to your hormones, you can often manage the pain or itchiness with natural remedies, including:

Soak in a bathtub of Epsom salt
Take a gentle stool softener as recommended by your doctor
Drink plenty of fluids
Apply a cold compress to the affected area
Increase your fiber intake to alleviate constipation
To help with the symptoms of current hemorrhoids, try over-the-counter creams that contain witch hazel

Are There Any Natural Remedies For Hemorrhoids After Birth

Soaking your bottom in a sitz bath can feel soothing when you have hemorrhoids. You can sit in a few inches of warm water in your tub, or use a sitz bath a small plastic basin that you fill with water and place over your toilet.

If you didn’t get a sitz bath when you left the hospital, you can buy one at any drugstore. Try soaking in it a few times a day for 10 to 15 minutes, two to three times a day.

Another way to get soothing relief is to hold an ice pack to the area a few times a day. Ice may bring down swelling and discomfort. Cold compresses soaked in witch hazel can also feel soothing.

You might alternate cold and warm treatments. Start with an ice pack, and then sit in a warm sitz bath.

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When Should You See Your Healthcare Provider

Consult your provider if preventive efforts and home treatments dont help, or if you have severe pain or rectal bleeding. In some cases, you may need professional help shrink your hemorrhoids.

Also, always check with your provider before taking any medication for hemorrhoids while youre pregnant. There are a lot of hemorrhoid relief products available. Keep in mind that most of these products should be used for no more than a week to avoid such side effects as skin irritation or thinning.

For many women, hemorrhoid symptoms resolve after delivery. If they persist, surgical treatment might be recommended.

What Can I Do To Prevent Hemorrhoids And Varicose Veins In Pregnancy

Natural Remedies for Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

The best way to help prevent hemorrhoids during pregnancy is to prevent constipation. If you are constipated, don’t strain during bowel movements.

Steps to help prevent varicose veins are the same as those used to decrease symptoms:

Don’t stand still or sit for long periods of time.
Prop your feet up whenever possible.
Don’t wear tight clothes.

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What Should I Avoid Eating If I Have Hemorrhoids

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Hemorrhoid Creams Cold Packs Sitz Baths Witch Hazel

Hemorrhoid creams are good for reducing any itchiness, however, I found that they only soothed and did not reduce the size of my swollen veins.
Using a cold pack or ice pack on your rectal area is great for reducing swollen veins.
Taking a sitz bath is often recommended, however, it is important to avoid warm water. Warm water agitates swollen veins because warmth causes more blood to circulate to the area.
Using witch hazel on a sanitary pad helps to cool and reduce itchiness.

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What Are The Common Symptoms Of Hemorrhoids In Pregnancy

The common symptoms of hemorrhoids during pregnancy are as follows-

Itching in the rectum: If you are suffering from hemorrhoids then you may experience constant itching in the rectum area along with some burning sensation as well

Bleeding during bowel movement: If you see blood in your stool and while wiping your rectum post bowel movement then you have hemorrhoids. You may consult your doctor for better relief tips

Pain near anus: If you feel constant pain which is either sharp or dull then know that you are suffering from hemorrhoids during pregnancy

Soft mass of skin protrusion: When wiping the rectum area you feel a soft mass of skin protruding out, then you are suffering from hemorrhoids

Contact Our Hemorrhoid Specialists In Los Angeles Today

Hemorelief Hemorrhoids Treatment Ointment

If you are suffering from hemorrhoids after pregnancy, and conservative treatments are unsuccessful in relieving your discomfort, today with our hemorrhoid experts in Los Angeles. Call the La Peer Health Systems Hemorrhoid Center of Excellence at . We can provide you with more information regarding treatment for hemorrhoids in Los Angeles.

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Should I Talk To My Doctor About My Hemorrhoids After Giving Birth

Within a few weeks of giving birth, you should start to see a gradual improvement in your hemorrhoids if you have been diligent in treating them at home using the remedies that have been recommended to you.If, on the other hand, your hemorrhoids are particularly chronic or if you encounter rectal bleeding, you should consult with your primary care physician or a midwife as soon as possible.

How Common Are Hemorrhoids After Birth

Postpartum hemorrhoids are commonso common, in fact, that 43% of the women in this study developed them.

And this study came up with comparable results, with a third of new mamas developing hemorrhoids in the postpartum period.

So, if it helps at all, youre not alone.